Encrypted Reunion [tag: Michael Winston, open]

[ADAM WORTH]

The pleading in the doctor's voice stopped Hyde in his tracks. What would Adam do? Yes, Adam would stop in his tracks--he need to keep up this pretense for as long as he can, so he can get away. If Hyde does what he would usually do, there will be no end to this. No need for anyone to end up in county jail now. At the mention of Michael, Hyde whirled around and glared at Aaron, hoping that the darkness in his eyes will cause the man to back down.

"Michael's fine." Hyde insisted through gritted teeth. He turned away and continued on, but the man followed. Adam's not here now, Hyde thought in a sing-song voice in response to Aaron's continued plea. Adam tried negotiating with Hyde to take over, but was shot down immediately. You'll cave. We need to get back fast--for Imogene Hyde reasoned. Adam echoed the final two words in agreement.

"Help?" Hyde mocked as he trotted along with the still sleeping Michael on his back. "Nobody asked for help. We're doing just fine, thank you. My only scheme now, doctor, is to get home." He then scoffed at Aaron's admission of his persistence. But at the mention of Helen's name, Hyde stopped in his tracks and whirled around suddenly. The realization of possibly jostling Michael to wake made Adam winced and Hyde slap himself mentally. He'll deal with it if the child wakes.

"Helen?Afraid of Helen?" Hyde questioned, moving predatory towards Aaron. "Haven't you forgotten? That old wench has methods to retrieve information. She's so pampered that she doesn't take 'no' for an answer!" When Aaron continued his pleading, reading textbook claims of making sure of their safety, Hyde laughed.

"Insist is a funny word, doctor." Hyde looked away for a moment, then took another intimidating step closer. "The boy is coming with me, Aaron. And my dear, sweet man," Hyde let his lips curl up into a smirk. He paused for effect, holding Aaron's gaze, as though about to lash out. Then he look down and checked for the time. "Like I said, I have important things to attend to. Hey, maybe we won't meet again some day!"

[MICHAEL MATTHIAS WINSTON]

Michael was sleeping rather peacefully for once. He was upon adams shoulders, a man whom he cared for deeply. His stomach was full, food that he’d never eaten before had made this a much better thing as well. He was even safely protected by Adam, feeling this by knowing he was safe on Adam’s back.

However, he stirred slowly…something was happening. Arguing? Yelling? He couldn’t really tell, but he sat up a little bit, rubbing his eyes..and he saw someone different. There was a person there. He was slightly tall, but not humongously, and he had a grey tint to his hair. Probably an old guy. Michael’s immediate reaction was to tighten his grip on Adam…nervous.

This might be a point that a psychiatrist would notice the certain mannerisms of the boy were…different. Extremely withdrawn, and quick to go into an introverted stage with a pouting lip, and dependence on a singular person. His expression was one of fear, and anxiety. Perhaps due to something else, but most likely just due to the fact that a new person was too close to Adam. His Adam.

The small child spoke not a word, merely moving one hand to his pocket, taking out his bear to hold it to his chest. He was pouting…unaware of anything that might be wrong with Adam, or that he had actually switched into a different personality at all. Hyde did not have a different appearance after all, and so he was still on adams back.

He wanted to speak, to ask Adam what was going on, but the boy couldn’t get the words past his own lips…he had them, but he did not get out much. He just managed to call the male’s name. “A…Adam…” The quiet words of the boy intended only to reach the ears of who he thought was still Adam. His eyes were now slightly narrow, frowning.

[DR AARON SHUTT]

Aaron heard Michael call out Adam’s name, and prayed that it still was Adam inside.

“Michael?” Aaron said softly, with a warm smile. He was very unthreatening, it was a talent of his, but he could still tell that the child was terrified of him. “It’s okay. I’m a friend of Doctor Magnus. I believe you know her.” Aaron knew he was playing with fire, mentioning Helen’s name. Adam’s other personality would not take kindly to it, but hopefully Michael would.

Aaron clutched his briefcase the same way Michael clutched that teddy bear. Aaron’s brown eyes looked into Michael’s sleepy blue ones, trying to show that he could trust him.

“Adam has been taking good care of you, I see.” Aaron looked at Worth, still silently pleading with Adam to let him take the child. He didn’t want to fight. He didn’t want to lose, again. “But it’s time for you to come back to the Sanctuary. They’re all very worried about you. They just want to see that you’re nice and safe. So why don’t we show them, hey?” Aaron spoke to Michael directly. Aaron had already tried, and failed, to get through to Adam. Michael was his last hope.

[ADAM WORTH]

The boy on his back stirred, grabbing both Adam's and Hyde's attention. Wordlessly, Hyde slithered back into the subconscious and let Adam takes reign. They need the boy, they like the boy, and between the both of them, Adam was the safer bet to keep Michael on their side.

"Hey Mikey-boy," Adam whispered softly as he tilted his head back to Michael. He planted a soft kiss on the boy's arm for reassurance. "Sorry if we woke you up," he apologized. His gaze shifted to Aaron quickly in gesture to the man. "Don't mind him, boy, we're going home."

At the mention of Helen's name, Adam's attention snapped back to Aaron and he stared, hard. He took a few steps back to put a distance between them and held out a warning finger. "I'll say this for the last time, doctor" Adam repeated. Even if Aaron had picked up on the subtle differences between Adam and Hyde, continuity for Michael's sake was crucial at this point. "Stay away from us, leave us alone, please."

[MICHAEL MATTHIAS WINSTON]

There were people trying to talk to him…different sides. He gulped slightly, and he bit his lip. A friend of Magnus? Go back to the sanctuary? He held Adam a bit tighter, and it was clear he’d grown attatched to Adam. In fact, he was very nervous…Michael wasn’t a good person to be nervous either. He thought that, with Adam backing up, and with the other male being someone Adam told him not to mind…the other person was trying to hurt Adam. His eyes widened slightly. “N…no. No hurt Adam!! Don’t..” He gulped slightly, closing his eyes tight.

Michael was definitely not…balanced. Mentally, he was seeming to slip lightly, in terms of sanity. Confusion wasn’t happy…it was a bad, bad emotion. He looked down a little bit, and the boy swallowed again. There were lights flickering near them. Stores had people looking down at their cell phones, wondering why their signal was wavering. Three bars..then none…then three again. And here Michael was, now leaning into Adam. He was mostly scared.

Adam was smaller than the other person…and Michael was heavy, and hard to hold if something went bad. So he wrapped his arms tightly around Adam’s neck, as though protecting him. Conflict was bad. Bad bad conflict. “A…Adam…Adam is good. D…don’t…” He trailed off, unable to get the words out much more…wanting Adam to comfort him, as he always had when Michael had a bad dream.

[DR AARON SHUTT]

"I don't want to hurt Adam." Aaron told Michael, shaking his head. It went against everything he stood for. It went against the Hippocratic oath. "I don't want to hurt anybody." The mere thought pained him, but that was fine. His own pain was acceptable.

Aaron noticed the electricity fluctuating in the area, and clutched his briefcase even tighter. He brought it up to his chest, hugging it, using it to defend himself from, from what?

"Adam is good." Aaron agreed, even though it would only confuse the boy further. "I like Adam." Aaron smiled, honestly.

"Michael, please calm down." Aaron tried his best to keep his voice calm, but the pain was evident. His presence was hurting the boy, but he couldn't turn his back on him, or Adam. Adam was protecting the boy, comforting him, but he was also taking him away.

"I don't have to go to the Sanctuary just yet." Aaron blurted out in desperation, hating himself for it, but hiding it well. "I mean, they already probably know I'm lost. But I don't expect they'll come looking for me." That self-deprecating smile returned. "Helen won't stop looking for Michael though." He didn't mean it as a threat though, merely a fact. "I can't go back without him. I can't lie." Aaron was a lousy liar. He stood there, firm and defiant, with only his briefcase to shield him from whatever happened next.

Aaron usually thought things through. He never usually said a word without envisioning all possible outcomes of a conversation. But Aaron's mind was whirling, and all he could hear was the rush of his own blood ringing in his ears. High blood pressure. Stress. Aaron no longer cared. All he knew was that he wasn't leaving without the boy. And he wouldn't leave Adam again. Not again. He was determined to save them, no matter the cost to himself.

[ADAM WORTH]

The grip of the boy's tighten around him protectively. Adam smiled, and Hyde had to sneer, almost in triumph. But Aaron was still here and they were still standing in the middle of the street...bantering. Hyde sighed--this was taking forever. He resisted the urge to take over and let Adam handle things, at least just a while more.

"I don't want to hurt anybody."

"Then leave," Adam interrupted Aaron firmly. The electricity around them flickered and Adam gave Michael's leg a gentle squeeze. "It's okay, buddy, I'm here, he's not going to hurt us," he reassured Michael, keeping an eye on Aaron. They could really make a run for it, they could. When Aaron blurted out the next string of sentences, Adam chuckled.

"You don't fool me, Doctor Shutt. Helen Magnus will come looking for you." Time to play dirty, Hyde instructed. My turn.

"False hopes, doctor?" Hyde laughed. "If the--" he bit his tongue in reminder of the presence of a child. "If Helen was looking for Michael, she'd have found him by now."

"I can't go back without him. I can't lie."

Silence filled the air between them as internal debates went on between Hyde and Adam as Hyde puts a hand to his chin, as though in consideration. We're never going to get rid of him. Adam sighed, almost defeated. No, Hyde argued, as though knowing what his better half would suggest. We'll never get things done with him trying to make a bloody conversation every single second. He explained, eyes flickering up to the doctor. I won't put it pass him not to steal the child when our backs are turned, and he could lead the Sanctuary straight to us. It's too dangerous.

"I'll tell you what, Doctor Shutt, do whatever you want, but we're going, and you are not coming with us." Adam insisted, jostling Michael a little on his back for a firmer hold. He eyed Aaron warningly one last time before heading off in the direction of his apartment. They will have to take the chance and possibility that Aaron will trail them, but like every undesired possibility, Hyde will deal with it if and when it comes.

[MICHAEL MATTHIAS WINSTON]

Adam’s support definitely calmed Michael down, and the electricity fluctuation gradually slowed to a stop as he felt a supportive squeeze. He didn’t know what was going on…but he knew he trusted Adam more than Helen Magnus right now. Michael looked down a bit at Adam.

Since Adam had given his reassurance that they wouldn’t be hurt, Michael closed his eyes, still making sure to hold on tightly. This person wanted to take him away from Adam?! But he hadn’t even done anything to deserve that! Michael wanted sleep, but the little boy knew it wouldn’t come so easily.

His stormy grey eyes were open once again, knowing he can’t get any sleep with concern like this looming over him. His longish brown hair needed a cut…so it could be out of his face, so the young boy moved to wipe it from his face, looking at the doctor with those sad, scared little eyes. His mouth screwed up into a pout.

Well, who did that person think he was going to believe? The guy that rescued him from dying on the street, fed him, and taught him a lot about the surface, or the guy that was interfereing...saying he had to see if Adam and Michael were safe. He already knew that they were safe…he’d lived with Adam before, right? So what was the big deal. He turned his head back towards Adam and buried it in his back as they started to walk away, tightening also his legs around Adam that were behind held by him. Saying nothing.

[DR AARON SHUTT]

Aaron knew he had lost, and he clutched his briefcase even closer to his chest. This could never go the way he wanted, and he wanted so many things. He wanted to save the boy, save Adam, save Gina, save himself. Failing that, he wanted Hyde to hurt him, for failing. Watching them walk away made it hard to breathe, which Aaron couldn't understand. He'd rather Hyde had taken his breath away by simple strangulation, or a blow to the chest.

"If you ever change your mind," Aaron called out after the pair, "You can always call me. Text me. Tweet me. Skype me." Aaron was becoming slightly hysterical. "If you ever feel scared, worried, slightly homicidal." In truth, Aaron was feeling scared, worried, and slightly... "If you ever come to your senses." That part was directed as much at Adam as it was Michael. "You have a friend in me, an ally. I know it's not much." Michael and Adam had each other. Why would they ever need Aaron? It was Aaron who was alone. "But the offer is always there."

Aaron never gave Michael his number, Hyde wouldn't let him get that close, but Aaron hoped that Michael's skills would let him find it. He hoped, that somehow, Michael would make that call. It was a faint hope though. Aaron still knew he had failed, and even though he didn't know the streets of New City, he was certain he could find a fight, and be punished accordingly. It would have to be a big fight though, in order for the external pain to displace his internal emotions.

Before Aaron watched Michael and Adam walk away, Aaron called out to Adam, "What should I tell Helen?" It was an honest question. Aaron was aware he should tell Helen everything, the safety of others could depend on it it. But honestly? He trusted Helen as much as he trusted Adam, as much as he trusted anybody since Gina's death. And besides, Adam was a patient. Aaron couldn't break patient-Doctor confidentiality. "What should I tell her?" Aaron repeated, hoping for a helpful reply, from Michael or Adam at this stage. Aaron needed help.

[ADAM WORTH]

As Adam headed away, he was surprised that Aaron didn't choose to follow. The man had that bit of integrity in him after all. Adam couldn't help but smile, then he froze when he heard the other man's voice calling out after them. He closed his eyes momentarily and drew in a deep breath. Embarrassment--something Adam hadn't felt for a very, very long time. He clenched his jaw and pushed the feeling aside. Perhaps passers-by will look to Aaron as the unstable one in this awkward situation in the middle of the streets. Tweet him? Skype him? A part of Adam had to laugh. He shook his head and started off again. But there was that voice, again. He sighed. What should Aaron tell Helen? Not about meeting them, of course. Hyde stated the obvious, his tone indicated his perspective of the doctor--stupid.

Adam turned around, jaws tight and eyes hardened as he considered the doctor's question carefully--he was starting to see Hyde's point. Helen's knowledge of Adam's existence will put everything at risk--there was no doubt this scientist would be hunted down like an animal. Sanctuary for all? Bullshit--all Helen ever wanted was to get rid of Adam, even though he belonged to the precise group of beings she had sworn to protect. Finally, Adam spoke. "Tell her nothing. You never saw us--not me, not Michael. Do that, and maybe we'll see each other again."

Empty promises? Hyde questioned. Are you sinking to the level of that wench?

Adam took one last look at Aaron and turned. He remembers Helen's empty promises all too well. "We'll do everything we can." No, Helen, not using the source blood on Imogene like you were asked wasn't doing everything you can. "Let us help you, Adam." No, Helen, all you wanted was to kill me. Maybe, Hyde. I said maybe. he defended himself. Plus, you never know if we'll ever need his help some day.